Key Questions to Ask Before Renewing Your Trademarks

A registered trademark is one of the most valuable assets of a company. However, you will lose your trademark rights if the trademark registration in the UAE is not renewed on time. Moreover, you will have to pay a late penalty fee if you are renewing your trademark after the stipulated deadline and the grace period.

This means renewal of trademark registration in the UAE is critical for every trademark owner. To avoid any costly mistake, brand owners need to ask certain critical questions before conducting a trademark renewal in the UAE. Read the below blog to know the key questions you must ask before renewing your Trade Mark Registration in the UAE:

When should I start applying for renewal?

Trademark registration in the UAE is valid for 10 years from the date of application and can be renewed in the last year of the expiry of protection. Trademark agents in the UAE advise you to not wait till the protection lapses to apply for the renewal.

Can I apply late for renewal of trademark registration in the UAE?

If you apply for trademark renewal in the UAE after the deadline, you may have to pay a late penalty fee. There is a three-month grace period for late applicants and you must not let the grace period lapse.

Will I lose my trademark, if not renewed?

Your trademark registration in the UAE will lapse if you fail to renew it within the grace period of three months. The UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) may remove your trademark from the register on its own motion.

Can other parties apply for my trademark if I don’t renew it?

Other parties are not allowed to apply for your trademark in the three years following the lapse of its registration. However, you can make a fresh application for the trademark during this period. After three years, other parties will be able to apply for the trademark.

Is my trademark still useful?

Before applying for trademark renewal in the UAE, ask yourself whether your trademark still represents your business’ brand. If your brand has undergone significant changes in the 10 years, you should evaluate whether it is still useful to your brand. You can either drop the trademark or try to reposition it to align with the changes. If that’s the case, consult with trademark agents in the UAE to take the necessary action.

Did I use my trademark properly?

The UAE Trademark Law allows the provision of cancellation of a trademark on account of non-use.  Any interested party can request a civil court to cancel your trademark registration in the UAE if you have not used the trademark for five consecutive years from the date of registration. If you have not commercially used your trademark for the last five years, it would increase the risk of cancellation. In such as case, renewing your trademark may not be of much use to your business. Consult with trademark agents in the UAE to plan a renewal strategy.

How Can the Best Trademark Agents in the United Arab Emirates Help you?

Brand owners must take care not to miss the deadline for the renewal of trademark registration in the UAE. However, as the deadline for trademark renewal in the UAE, you can do an introspection based on the questions listed in this blog. Renewing your trademark with the help of trademark agents in the UAE is vital to ensure that you are entitled to increased brand protection. Failing to renew trademark registration exposes your brand to risks such as difficulty to re-register, additional costs including the late renewal penalty etc. Yet, many small businesses fail to promptly carry out trademark renewal in the UAE.

Consulting with the best trademark agents in Dubai such as Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) helps trademark owners renew their trademarks on time thereby increasing the strength of their IP protection. JIP is a full-service Intellectual Property Service firm that comprises a team of highly qualified trademark agents who are well-versed in IP laws and regulations. JIP’s services are not limited to the UAE. We also provide trademark registration and renewal services in GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain etc. JIP also provides international trademark registration services in Dubai as per the Madrid Protocol. If you decide to make the best of JIP’s robust trademark registration and renewal services in the UAE, your valued brand will remain protected across the world and you can enjoy increased brand visibility.